Vehicle-in-the-Loop speeds automotive design cycles

March 13, 2015 //
By Christoph Hammerschmidt

Confronted with increasing complexity and safety requirements for tomorrow’s vehicles, car designers increasingly use virtual test approaches to assure the correct functions of their systems. Complementing the known tool array of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) and Software-in-the-Loop (SiL), technology company IPG GmbH suggests an approach it calls Vehicle-in-the-Loop (ViL), allowing users to significantly reduce the time to develop their Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

At their Open House customer meeting, simulation expert company IPG (Karlsruhe, Germany), showed how simulation of multiple driving situations by software can complement actual driving tests with strong benefits for the entire development process. Since simulation can be used to verify interim design goals, it supports the agile development approach and thus brings the cars faster from the drawing board to the road.

Future development trends in car design such as the connected car, sensor fusion, partly or full autonomous driving actually make the number of tests required to ensure proper functionality explode, said IPG general manager Steffen Schmidt. The same holds true for the „hybridization“ of the powertrain, with a broad range of variations from mild hybrid to completely electric systems. „The ESP as one of the first electronic systems for the car has been verified completely with real testing“, Schmidt remembers. This is no longer possible. „In autonomous driving, the electronic systems have to master an infinite number of traffic situations and driving maneuvers. Real tests would take years and cost a fortune“, Schmidt said.